ESEQuant Lateral Flow Reader

For processing, interpreting, and documenting rapid tests at the point of need

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A portable reader customized to your needs

Unique, patented detection technology

PC software for flexible method development

Adaptable to most test cassette and dipstick formats

Can be used standalone, with PC software, or via a smartphone app

The ESE-Quant Lateral Flow Reader is a business-to-business solution based on next-generation technology that enables rapid tests at the point of need. This flexible and reliable system, based on a ready-to-use concept, enables you to develop fluorescence or colorimetric tests.

The ESEQuant Lateral Flow Reader is your solution for customized fluorescence or colorimetric tests at the point of need. Starter kits are immediately available and can be rapidly adapted to any test strip or cassette format. Together with the comprehensive developers' Lateral Flow Studio Software, you can develop next-generation lateral flow tests quickly and easily — in qualitative, semi-quantitative, or fully quantitative format.
Most importantly, you start your R&D work with a fully developed reader from serial production. This means that you save costs, speed up your R&D work, and shorten the time-to-market for your rapid tests. After the initial development phase, simply choose from a wide range of available accessories to make tests easier and safer for your customers. When you have decided on the instrument confguration, you can easily customize the design, workflow, and software according to your requirements.

The confocal detector is the most important part of the ESEQuant LFR. Its compact design and extremely small dimensions are key to allowing the development of a reader that has a very small footprint. The detector includes integrated electronics with a digital interface. For fluorescence detection, excitation light sources and emission filters can be configured to meet customers' needs. In addition, the dynamic range can be adjusted according to customer specifications. Up to 2 different fluorescence dyes can be detected on this 2-channel detector. Alternatively, it can be configured for colorimetric detection (colloidal gold or other colored latex beads).

Back to topTest developer tools
Lateral Flow Studio Software is a comprehensive tool for the development of lateral flow tests in conjunction with the ESEQuant Lateral Flow Reader. A wide range of options enable the test developer to easily and quickly develop a quantitative, semi-quantitative, or qualitative lateral flow test. By using this all-in-one system, the test developer can save costs, speed up the test development process, and easily develop a next-generation lateral flow assay.

Features of Lateral Flow Studio Software

Feature

Description

Acquisition of test data

Lateral Flow Studio Software allows you to configure up to 60 different parameters. In addition, up to 15 different measurement or control parameters can be defined per test strip, and each test parameter can be freely defined. Raw performance data can also be directly visualized. Through the inherent flexibility of the system, the manufacturer of rapid tests has full control of lot-specific method files. After completion, the method file is simply downloaded to the reader.

Interpretation of results

Calibration curves can be determined either automatically or manually. The software also includes an automatic curve fit function. Use of cut-offs enables semi-quantitative evaluation of the results, and logical combination of several parameter results leads to one overall result.

Statistical evaluation

Lateral Flow Studio Software simplifies statistical evaluation by determining the verifiable reproducibility of the measurements. In addition, the software enables analysis of the trends of all parameters and visualization of all parameters measured off-line. Desired standards can also be selected for test calibration.

Create lot-specific method information

Export method files to RFID or barcodes so that readers in the field can be updated easily.

PC software to control the reader via a PC, including extended input possibilities. The user can upload data sets from the reader to a PC and export these for further evaluation, control user access, and manage new test methods (update method files on the reader, add new test methods etc.).

Lateral Flow App

App (Bluetooth required) to control the reader via a smartphone. The app makes full use of the user's smartphone, enabling easy data entry via the touchscreen, test barcode and sample ID barcode reading with the camera, e-mailing data, storing results in the extended memory of the smartphone etc.

External mobile thermal printer

Use a regular cable or a Bluetooth connection to connect the printer to the reader.

Internal RFID reader

Read test information by scanning RFID labels.

External 2D barcode scanner

Connect directly to the reader to scan test barcodes or sample barcodes.

Quantitative alfatoxin immunoassay

A client developed a quantitative immunochromatographic test for the detection of aflatoxin in grain, soy flour, nuts, pistachios, coconut flour, sunflower seeds, figs, dates, and cashew nuts. The test was developed using the ESEQuant Lateral Flow Reader with accessories.
Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of the fungi species Aspergillus flavus, parasiticus, and nomius. These fungi occur in humid tropical areas and the contamination of vegetable food takes place in the cultivable countries. Aflatoxins belong to the strongest natural occurring cancerogenic substances.
The test is based on the widely used lateral flow test format which is used for rapid on-site screening tests. In order to meet today's increasing quantification and documentation requirements, an electronic reader system was developed. The reader can be used as a portable battery-operated mobile or as a stationary unit in a laboratory. Use of the reader ensures objective and accurate evaluation of test bands present on the test strips. The recommended set includes a portable printer and a 2D bar code scanner for actualization of new lots.

Quantitative measurement of total IgE in whole blood

A client developed a gold bead-based colorimetric immunochromatographic test that detects immunoglobulins directly from whole blood. The test was developed using the ESEQuant Lateral Flow Reader from QIAGEN Lake Constance for colorimetric (colloidal gold) assay with RFID reader.
New fast and easy screening methods for possible allergies are required. Measurement of allergen-specific IgE as well as total serum IgE is used to assess possible allergy.
The total IgE level is reported in a dynamic range from 30–2000 U/ml. Internal validity check points are checked with the reader and only valid results are reported. Lot specific features are encoded on RFID labels and automatically detected by the lateral flow reader. High correlation of results is obtained from whole blood with the portable reader compared to a reference lab instrument (see figure High correlation of results).

Quantitative MDMA lateral flow test

A client developed a quantitative fluorescence-based immunochromatographic test for the detection of MDMA (Ecstasy) in urine. The test was developed using the ESEQuant Lateral Flow Reader with fluorescence detection.
Tests for drug abuse in lateral flow test format are widely used for rapid screening purposes. The growing need for quantitative results and more sensitive tests when testing people for drugs requires different labels (e.g., fluorescence) and appropriate readers.
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was spiked at various concentrations into a urine substitute and added to a lateral flow test strip. The strip was read after 20 minutes by the ESEQuant Lateral Flow Reader.
The absolute fluorescence peak intensities of the test line of the lateral flow strip were plotted against the spiked concentration of MDMA. Each data point on the graph is the geometric average value of four experiments. The data show a linear anti-proportional response to the concentration of MDMA with a correlation coefficient of 0.9958 suggesting that the test and the reader can provide accurate quantitative results for field-based testing of small molecules without sample preparation (see figure Accurate quantitative results). The inversely proportional signal of the test to the concentration of analyte is due to the competitive set up of the lateral flow format.
The device display shows the quantitative test results. Those are an objective measure of the analyte concentration and help minimize false positive or false negative rates of lateral flow tests, which can occur by subjective interpretation of such tests due to visual readout. This is especially important if results are read out at night or in other environmentally difficult conditions, which is a common problem with roadside testing.
Fluorescence tests are usually more sensitive than colorimetric tests and require a reader as the fluorescence signal can not be seen by eye.